Improvement in seal-locks



T. M. F0015 & c. AQ'RANDALL.

Seal-Locks. N0.153,819. Y Y Patented/mmHg UNITED STATES PATENT (DF-FICE.

THEODORE M. FOOTE AND CHARLES A. RANDALL, OF YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD THEIR RIGHT TO ROBERT F. WILLIAMS,

OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEAL-LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 53,819, dated August 4, 1874; application led June 23, 1874.

OAsE A.

To all 'whom it may concer-n:

Beit known that we, TnEoDoRE M. FooTE and CHARLES A. RANDALL, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seal-Locks, of which the fol-. lowing is a specication:

Our invention relates to a new and irnproved seal-lock for various articles, although it is intended to be used principally for securing car-doors, mail-bags, safes, and the like during transportation, which cannot be `opened or unlocked without destroying the seal, thus preventing any fraudulent access to the interior of the article secured, as will be hereinafterfully set forth.

This invention consists of a U -shaped frame, one of the arms of which is provided with a spring-impelled locking-pin for securing a cross-bolt in position, said cross-bolt having a slotted lower end, which embraces a projection on the seal or tag, which is thus confined in the space between the two arms of the U- shaped frame, as hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure l represents a side elevation, partly in section, ot' our seal-lock. Fig. 2 represents the bolt or bar. Fig. 3 represents the tag or seal.

'In the accompanying drawings, the letter A represents the U-shaped frame. The arm A1 is bored longitudinally from the end to the aperture a, through which the bolt passes, and the lock-pin D inserted, a spiral spring', E, being placed behind it, and the end of the bore closed by a plug, I, as shown, causing said pin to be pushed toward the bolt B. The bolt B is recessed, as at F, and is provided with a pin, H, near the end, to prevent it from being entirely withdrawn from the aperture a. The lower end of the bolt B is slotted, as shown, and sets into a recess, c3, in the arm A2 of the frame, directly opposite the aperture a in the arm A1. The eXtreme end of the arm A2 is also provided with a V- shaped recess, K, for the purpose to be hereinafter explained. O represents the tag or seal, consisting of a plate of fragile metal, rubber, or other material, with a V-shaped projection, L, on the lower edge of one corner,

and a dovetailed projection, M, at the other corner of the lower edge. N is a link, by

which the lock may be chained to the car,

cage, or other article, to prevent it from bein g lost or mislaid. v

The tag C may be marked with any desired gures or other characters.

The lock is secured to the staple by passing the frame A through it, and setting the tag C between the arms, as shown, so that the projection L will fall into the recess K. The dovetailed projection M will then fall over the recess a3 in the arm A2, and as the bolt B is pushed down into said recess the slot on its end will pass over said dovetailed projection, thereby holding the tag, the end ot' the bolt entering the recess co3, and the lock-pin will be pushed forward into the recess F in the bolt, securely fastening the same.

It will be evident from the above description that the lock cannot be uniastened without destroying theptag O, as the dovetailed projection cannot be withdrawn from the slot,

and prevents the bolt B from being turned. As the bolt B can only be released from the lock-pin by a partial revolution, so as to force said lock-pin back against the spring, it will be perceived that the lock is absolutely secured, and the unlocking thereof can only be accomplished by severing the tag or seal.

A hard-rubber tag of suitable construction could be secured by means ot' a locking-bolt in a similar manner.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The frame A, having the arms A1 A2, the former of which is provided with the springimpelled locking-pin l), in combination with the cross-bolt B, having the slotted end, and the whole constructed to conline the tag or seal in the space between the arms A1 A2., in the manner herein shown and described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our hands.

THEODORE M. FOOTE. CHARLES A. RANDALL.

Witnesses:

J AMEs L. Nonnrs, J. W. HAMILTON J oHNsoN. 

